Thread: sub $1k UHF for Disco 2

if there are lots of trees hill than maybe an antenna between 4db and 6db

what distances are you hoping to cover???

for a bit over $1000 you can be set up with a reasonable HF and you can talk across australia

I guess about 100k's....enough to get me out of the poo if and when I get in to the poo.

Can you please give me some more info on the kit for a bit over $1k?

Both brands of uhf should do you for short range, convoy use. If you do not have much room for mounting, get a unit with a removable head.
I suggest you get a ground plane independent antenna unless you are going to drill a hole in the roof. Go to someone who specialises in radio stuff and ask.

GME are cheapest. Icom 400 and 440 are pro/commercial units and can be programmed up to 25W output - but of course you can only use them on CB with 5W output

UHF is basically line of site but range is increased dramatically if you can "see" a repeater.

But that said... if you are not within range of a repeater you need HF or a sat phone. Under some conditions they don't always work either.

So... if you want 100km range, the question to ask yourself is: "Can I use a repeater?" If the answer is "no" then a UHF unit may not be suitable.
There are several web sites that provide information about repeater locations.

I should have added:
For HF information see the VKS737 web site.

HF is not cheap though. Apart from the initial setup there is an ongoing annual fee.

Originally Posted by catch-22

I guess about 100k's....enough to get me out of the poo if and when I get in to the poo.

Can you please give me some more info on the kit for a bit over $1k?

a uhf is not going to get your 100km

there is a guy on ebay, i think his name is dave, anyway operates out of brisbane and he had a heap of secondhand hf radios

i was going to buy one for the high country....still undecided

for about $1100 i was going to get a HF radio, programmed, antenna etc, i was going to get a hf set that cellcall and tell? call

and as miky sail there is ongoing yearly fees

Presuming you're wanting this mainly for car to car communication on convoys etc, or car back to camp ? Plus you want something where you can always make contact if you get into real trouble ?

So an HF set probably won't help for part 1, because very few others will have HF.
I'd suggest for a good "all round" package for your $1000 you get a CB UHF for around $500 with antenna, and then buy a personal EPIRB for $500 - $600.

The GME UHF set will be fine and under $500 with aerial. Look at Andrews Communications website or some idea of prices.
It's the aerial and how it's mounted that will make the primary difference to your range. Use a ground plane independent antenna, keep your coax cable run short and mount the antenna as high as possible/practical. If you work through a repeater ( duplex mode ) this will get your 100km, but repeaters don't cover everywhere ( and are run by volunteers so not always up )

The EPIRB has no ongoing fees after initial purchase, ( the service is funded by the Govt. ) other than replacing batteries after 5 years. Of course it is something you hope never to use.

With the radio, get one with a detachable (remote) head unit. GME TX3440 or ICOM IC-440 are the pick. ICOM is better as the speaker is in the hand piece. Neither will set you back more than mid $400's. These are much easier to install as you can put the base unit elsewhere in the Disco (e.g. kick panel under steering wheel).

A 3dB gutter mount aerial will do very well but won't get the most distance and a 6dB will be better. The higher up you can mount it the better. The RFI CD900 and CD5000 are both good robust aerials.

Everything else is pretty much covered in other posts.

Originally Posted by catch-22

I guess about 100k's....enough to get me out of the poo if and when I get in to the poo.

Can you please give me some more info on the kit for a bit over $1k?

I picked up a brochure recently on a satellite based service that consists of a small hand-held device that has a couple of buttons - one to notify your position, and the other to raise an alarm.
According to the brochure its quite flexible in what you configure it to do on notification/alarm eg SMS, email, phone call etc.
From memory the device was only a couple of hundred $$ - I don't recall what the subscription was, but don't think it was too bad.

I know its not what you were asking for, but might be an option if you just want a way of letting people know where you are and if you're OK without setting off an EPIRB.

If you're interested I can dig out the brochure and let you know what the product was.

SteveG